5/23/2011Obamas views reinforce proximity with France on Mideast
PARIS, A senior French official said on Monday that the recent views expressed by US President Barack Obama demonstrate the closeness with France on the issue of the Middle East peace process, particularly on the question of borders between Israel and the future Palestinian State.
Citing Obamas speech to the Jewish lobby group, AIPAC, on Sunday, the official pointed out that the US leaders remarks "attest to the reinforced proximity of our views on the manner of arriving at a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East, notably on the question of borders." Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said, in answer to KUNA questions, that the border issue must be resolved "within the framework of negotiations" but this "must not exclude the possibility of territory exchanges agreed by the parties." For the first time ever, Obama in a separate speech on Thursday said the border talks between Israel and the Palestinians must use the 1967 lines as a basis for the discussions, but he noted that "mutually agreed swaps" should be made between the two sides.
Obama said that Israels security must be guaranteed in any border arrangement but his broaching of the 1967 lines was considered a breakthrough, although this was immediately rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli and US leaders met at the White House on Friday in a tense exchange and Obama seemed obliged to clarify and reiterate ironclad security guarantees and military support for Israel in his speech two days later to AIPAC.
French views on the question converge with those of the US President.
"On the questions of security, it is important that the terms of an agreement do not call into question the security of Israel, which is not negotiable," Valero said, almost perfectly echoing the position of Obama in front of AIPAC.
At the same time, the French official also spoke out for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State.
"It is also important to put an end to the occupation and to allow the sovereignty of the future, viable, democratic State of Palestine, living in peace and security beside Israel," he said.
Asked by KUNA if he agreed with the US leader when he said the Palestinian State muse be "non-militarised", the French official declined to answer.
He urged that all the parameters of a peace agreement must get the "collective" support of all, for instance in the Quartet, so that direct negotiations can resume on all "final status" issues and "significant progress" is made before the deadlines set for next September.
It is hoped that the elusive peace agreement can be reached by that date and the contours of a Palestinian State can be clearly drawn up.
But frustrated Palestinians have said they will unilaterally go to the UN General Assembly in September and lobby for recognition for their new state. Obama said in both speeches on Thursday and Sunday that he would seek to block such a move in the UN.
The Palestinians complain about ongoing settlement-building by Israelis, both in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and also about foot-dragging by the Israelis in the direct talks, which have now broken down.
In particular, they said the Israelis refuse to discuss precise parameters for borders and security questions.
"Our priority has always gone to the resumption of negotiations," Valero indicated.
"It is only if the impasse persists up until September that we will examine the other options likely to recreate a policy dynamic for the peace process," he affirmed.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2168709&Language=en
